The DIOCESAN Chronicle The Official News of the Diocese of Baker Published every two weeks for the sake of the unity of the Diocese and the “greater good of souls” September 26, 2010 Volume 1, Number 9 PARISH NEWS: ENTERPRISE - Anthony Joseph Wieck, PARISH NEWS: OUR LADY OF THE VALLEY is hosting a who grew up in rural Wallowa Theological Conference, October 15-16. Keynote Speaker County, has been ordained a will be Deacon Harold Burke-Sibers. Three workshops priest, the first priest known will be offered. Fee is $25. Call the parish at 541-963-0006 to be from the county. Wieck, for more information on registration and lodging . ~ the son of Claudette and Greg Wieck of rural Enterprise, is the sixth of nine children. He was ordained June 5 in the Springhill College Chapel in Mobile, Alabama by Arch- bishop Thomas Rodi. He is a member of the Society of Jesus (Jesuit) in the New Orleans Province. Father Anthony celebrated Mass on August 1, at his home parish of St. Katherine in Enterprise. Priests concelebrating with him included Fr. Bailey Clemens, Fr. Richard Edelin, Fr. Daniel Ochiabuto, and Fr. Ganza, SJ. Preaching to a packed church, he included points on the importance of the Sacraments in our lives, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation. He also expressed his appreciation for both his immediate family and parish family, who were instrumental in fostering his vocation. St. Katherine’s Women’s Guild hosted the reception Fr. Christopher Agoha, SMMM is proudly showing off following Mass for a gathering exceeding 200 people. the new signage at Marian Academy in LaGrande. The The parishioners raised, through donation, over $2,500 new sign, installed in August, was commissioned by the for the event and a gift of $2,000 was presented by Women of Our Lady of the Valley, Knights of Columbus Parish Council President, Randy Morgan, to Father Council #9442 and the Neuman Club. ~ Anthony. Father will take up his permanent residency in the New Orleans Province of the Society of Jesus. Fr. Daniel Ochiabuto sitting with students, (Left) Ms. Michele, Pre-School teacher and (right) Mrs. Weeks, Kindergarten teacher in the new “Rainbow Room” class- room. Wall painting done by parishioner, Kathy McGee. ~ Page 1 MIND AND HEART OF BISHOP VASA: The Diocese of sibility with limited availability of clergy to appoint, lim- Baker, ever since its establishment in 1903, has faced the ited personnel to staff Diocesan Offices, limited financial very serious challenge of maintaining financial stability. Resources, limited ability to provide clergy training and We are a Diocese composed of approximately 13,000 oversight, limited possibilities for inter-parochial events, Catholic families spread out over 65,000 square miles. non-existent Catholic Institutes of higher learning, and That calculates out to five square miles per Catholic fam- the ever present challenge of distance, which we all ily. While the distribution of these families is hardly uni- experience. form the difficult reality is that there are a lot of miles The establishment of The Diocesan Chronicle is between us and few large concentrations of Catholics. one attempt on my part to establish better channels of This reality poses a number of rather significant obsta- communication and more consistent contact between cles to the fostering and growth of our faith lives. parishes and with the Diocese. As the header says: “for One of the most difficult challenges is the main- the sake of the unity of the Diocese and the greater tenance of an appropriate spirit of unity. A fellow good of souls”. Bishop from Steubenville, Ohio wrote: “Somehow we The establishment of the Powell Butte Retreat have gotten to understand the Church as a primarily Center is another manifestation of a desire to provide a congregationalist reality. I know, as a bishop, I think of significant spiritual resource for our Diocese. It was a myself as the pastor or a congregation that covers 13 long delayed response to one of the first concerns counties and consists of 35,000-36,000 Catholics. Most expressed to me by Bishop Connolly. He said often in Catholics do not think of themselves as belonging my early years, “This Diocese needs a Retreat Center!” primarily to that congregation, and they do not think of In its first year of operation this Center has proved to be me as their primary pastor. So they think of their parish a valuable spiritual resource providing something better as the primary community and their priests as their and unifying for the Diocese, particularly for our young primary pastor. So it is an ecclesiological issue.” He people. More than 1500 souls have benefited from further opines: “People have a deep commitment, but it Retreats, Days of Recollection, Conferences and Camps is not a deep commitment to Christ and a deep commit- held at Camp Connolly and the Retreat Center. This too ment to the Catholic Church; it is a deep commitment to has been an effort exerted for the greater good of souls, their parish community.” for the greater good of the Diocese, for the greater This is perhaps stated too strongly but there is a good of parishes. I am extremely grateful to those who point here worthy of our consideration. Each needs to have contributed generously to this project. reflect upon how the primary commitment to Christ The formation of The Legacy of Faith Catholic is manifested. There is certainly no necessary conflict Community Foundation is likewise ultimately directed to between being committed to Christ and committed to the welfare of souls and the greater good of the Diocese one’s parish. When, however, one’s commitment to and its parishes. “one’s own” parish eclipses one’s commitment to Christ These efforts are just a small sampling of some and to the broader Church then the local commitment of the activities and projects which occupy us at the ceases to be a manifestation of unity and becomes Diocesan level. These are all things which a vast majority something else altogether. This in no way diminishes the of our individual parishes would be hard pressed to affection one ought to have for one’s parish but it shifts provide for themselves as isolated units. It is in unity the emphasis from seeing the parish as an end in itself as that great things can be accomplished. opposed to a means for eternal salvation. The Annual Appeal had been suspended for It has even been reported to me that pastors three years but now it is time to reinstate an Appeal. It have heard, “If we don’t have Mass in my church then will be known as APPEAL-2010. More details will be I will not go!” This manifests a great commitment to the forthcoming in the next two issues of The Chronicle. parish but very poor commitment to Christ. I have witnessed in the Diocese over these past ten years a very strong and dedicated commitment to RETREAT CENTER NEWS: After a busy summer, the the parish and this is very edifying. There is no doubt number of events continues to increase at the Powell that there is a great love and concern for the wellbeing Butte Retreat Center. The Diocese has held almost 40 of one’s own parish. The proof, however, of the genu- events during 2010 and we already have 32 events sched- ineness of this love and concern is whether that love and uled for 2011. October events include Day of the Son concern extends to other parishes and to the Diocese as high school retreat October 1-3, Day of the Spirit middle a whole. school retreat from October 8-10, the annual clergy The ecclesial reality is that all of the parishes assembly and Growing in Faith Today (G.I.F.T) program together constitute the Diocese of Baker and that entire which begins on October 10-14, followed by the Jovenes Diocese is my responsibility. It is often a heavy respon- para Christo retreat on October 22-24. Page 2 2010 Growing in Faith Today (G.I.F.T ) Program Michael is called “the Archangel,” many of the Church Featured speakers: Fathers place him over all angels as prince of the Sera- Most Reverend Robert F. Vasa phim. He is the patron of grocers, mariners, paratroop- Father Daniel J. Mahan ers, policemen and those who are ill. Gabriel, whose name means “God has shown Each October the priests and deacons of the Diocese of Himself mighty,” was, of course, the messenger who Baker gather for their annual clergy assembly. As part brought Mary the news that God had chosen her to be of this gathering the Diocese offers evening talks to the the mother of His Son at the Annunciation. Gabriel also laity. Below is a list of the presentations that will be appears in the Book of Daniel as a bearer of prophecy. offered this year: He is the patron of communications workers. October 10, 7:00 pm, Bishop Robert Vasa: Raphael’s name means “God heals,” and comes How the Language of the Liturgy Shapes from the story in the apocryphal book of Enoch that our Prayer and our Relationship with God Raphael healed the earth after it was defiled by the sins of the fallen angels. He also is featured in the Old Testa- October 11, 7:00 pm, Father Dan Mahan: ment Book of Tobit, where he guides Tobiah and Sarah Building an Engaged Parish and drives out evil spirits. Raphael is the patron of the October 12, 1:00 pm, Father Dan Mahan: blind, of nurses, physicians and travelers.